Michigan Football: Will Wolverines be truly tested by Penn State?

Two Big Ten powerhouses meet in a battle of ranked opponents in Week 10. Will No. 5 Michigan football or No. 14 Penn State prevail at the Big House?

After losing to Ohio State and Michigan State by a combined five points, Penn State has gotten back on track with a pair of wins over Indiana and Iowa. Their latest result, a 30-24 takedown of the Hawkeyes in Happy Valley, came despite managing fewer than 200 passing yards and only 118 rushing yards on the day.

At first glance, Penn State’s numbers are solid. A deeper look shows a team that ranks in the top 25 in passing yards per completion as well as one of the top running teams in the nation. Trace McSorley and Miles Sanders rank first and second in rushing touchdowns in the Big Ten. Combined with a defense that wreaks havoc at the line of scrimmage and cleans up on the back end with nine interceptions to date, the Nittany Lions have the weapons to compete with anyone.

Their next opponent, Michigan, has big hopes of their first Big Ten title in over a decade. The Wolverines are the last team in the league that remains undefeated in conference play. Jim Harbaugh‘s crew could vault up into the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings with a decisive win over a highly-ranked opponent.

Michigan made it to November with only one loss thanks in large part to one of the nation’s half-dozen best defenses. No team allowed fewer yards per game through the first two months of the season than the 220 conceded by the Wolverines. The defense also gives up an average of only 14.4 points per outing, while the offense controls the ball for more than 34 minutes per game.

Will Michigan remain the top dog in the Big Ten East, or can the Nittany Lions close the gap and kick off November with a big upset on the road? Here’s how you can watch the Saturday game between No. 5 Michigan and No. 14 Penn State:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 3
Time: 3:45 p.m. ET
Location: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Venue: Michigan Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN | FuboTV

Keys to Victory

At home, Michigan needs to get a strong game from quarterback Shea Patterson. The Ole Miss transfer has been a solid addition to the Wolverines offense, but he has yet to really show off the dynamic skill set that made him one of the SEC’s most dangerous quarterback prospects over the past few years. Michigan also needs to force Trace McSorley to beat them with his arm rather than allowing the Nittany Lions to run the ball.

The corollary, then, is that Penn State has to establish the run and balance their offense if they have any shot of prevailing at the Big House as a 10-point underdog. Keeping the ball out of Michigan’s hands will be critical, as the Wolverines love nothing more than to grind down the clock and limit opportunities for their opponents.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of oddsshark.com

Point Spread: Michigan -10
Over/Under: 53

Prediction

In a year where no one conference really seems dominant, the Big Ten has seen its traditional legends and leaders collapsing one by one. This feels like the week where Michigan gets knocked back down to earth, especially with such a big spread between a pair of top-15 teams. Look for the Nittany Lions to execute a game plan similar to the one Notre Dame used to beat the Wolverines in the season opener.

Final Score: Penn State 24, Michigan 17